Faith, Dialogue, and the Tragedy of Violence

by Fr. John Granato  |  09/21/2025  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

Last week I purposely chose to avoid talking about the political assassination of a young 31 year old on a college campus. He is a controversial figure and the emotions in our country right now are running high. There are many disgraceful comments all over social media as well as on talk shows and newscasts. There is a lot of virtue signaling on the right as well concerning his death. There have been countless acts of violence throughout our country recently, beginning with the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband this past June.

We also had the shooting of the children attending Mass a few weeks ago also in Minnesota. A young Ukrainian woman was brutally stabbed in her neck and died on the subway in North Carolina. Sadly, in our politically charged country, Charlie Kirk will not be the last victim of violence. Charlie was an Evangelical Christian who debated and sought dialogue with anyone who wanted to debate. He never shied away from his Christian beliefs, which are informed by the Holy Bible, which he quoted from extensively. You might disagree with his understanding of Christianity and his beliefs, especially concerning certain hot button issues, but these beliefs are and have been consistent in all Christian denominations as well as in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

It has only been in recent decades that these beliefs have been rejected by certain pastors, priests, ministers, and laity of all Christian denominations. But Charlie Kirk was being faithful to his understanding of these Christian tenets, especially in sexual morality. In our country, we have lost the ability to have differing views and yet treat others with respect even when we disagree. Charlie attempted to do just that, allowing especially college students to engage in a conversation. Bill Maher, the liberal host of Politically Incorrect and Real Time with Bill Maher, also never shied away from conversing with people he disagreed with.

In fact, he and Charlie Kirk were talking with each other on an episode of Real Time and even though they disagreed they were both respectful of each other and listened to what the other person had to say. Bill Maher has been devastated about the killing of someone he truly enjoyed talking to, and he has called out, in very strong and colorful words, the people who have been rejoicing over Charlie’s death. Every murder and assassination of any person is not just tragic but in our Catholic understanding is also a sin. No Catholic should rejoice over the murder of any person, especially of one whose only crime is that he wanted those he disagreed with to be set free with the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Charlie was a political activist, and his assassination was a political act, but we do not need to be political or make this death political. I pray for the repose of his soul, as I do for all who are killed in acts of violence. And I pray for the perpetrators of these acts and for an end to violence in all its forms.

God bless!